Israeli Security Tracks Down Tel Aviv Bus Bomber Terror Cell

The Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet), IDF and police have uncovered the terror cell that bombed a Tel Aviv bus in late November.

By Chana Ya'ar

First Publish: 12/19/2012, 11:10 AM

Scene of bus attack in Tel Aviv

Israel news photo: Tazpit

A joint effort by the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet), IDF and police has uncovered the terror cell that bombed a Tel Aviv bus in late November.

The cell is based in the area around the Palestinian Authority capital of Ramallah, in the Samaria (Shomron) region. Its members are affiliated with the Gaza-based Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorist organizations.

The State Attorney's Office announced plans to to file an indictment Wednesday morning against an Israeli Arab man in connection with the attack.

The suspect, a resident of of the Israeli Arab city of Taibe was allegedly recruited by the terror cell. He is believed to have left several bombs on the bus and then detonated one of them using a cell phone.

Interior Minister Eli Yishai requested permission from Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein to begin the unusual procedure of revoking the citizenship of the suspect, anticipating the possibility that he may be convicted.

In a letter to the Attorney General, Yishai noted that the attack was an act of terror and thus qualified as grounds for revocation of the accused terrorist's Israeli citizenship under the Citizenship Law.

The suspect, a former resident of the Palestinian Authority, became a citizen of Israel through marriage via the Family Unification Law.